Solid waste management project of Bengal’s Hooghly district draws international attention
A solid waste management project of urban bodies in Hooghly district of Bengal has drawn the attention of world’s environment groups. Organic fertilisers of Jibon Jyoti brand, being produced by Uttarpara-Kotrung municipality of Hooghly district, are made from bio-degradable solid waste collected from six municipalities.
The project has now been selected to compete with similar projects of two first world cities — Milan and Auckland — for an international award on best practices in solid waste management.
The initiative in Hooghly is part of the Rs 170-crore Kolkata Solid Waste Management Improvement Project and covers the civic bodies of Uttarpara-Kotrung, Konnagar, Rishra, Serampore, Baidyabati and Champdani. It has been funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
A drive down the 20-km stretch between Uttarpara and Baidyabati along the west bank of the Hooghly river will show the results of the path-breaking initiative. Any resident of the towns down the road will agree that their neighbourhoods were far from being clean even five years ago.
Secretary of the state’s municipal affairs department and chief executive officer of Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority (KMDA), is to attend the finale of the competition in New Mexico City, with the chairman of Uttarpara-Kotrung municipality. The awards ceremony is scheduled for December 1.
